ABSTRACT
The MENA region faces deepening environmental challenges, not least around water scarcity, pollution and soil degradation. These challenges are projected to intensify in the coming decades conjointly with significant population growth. This chapter provides a brief assessment of these environmental challenges before investigating potential opportunities for more constructive interventions from the EU.
The region also holds considerable renewable energy potential for developing solar and wind power. A data-based policy support tool is introduced, providing rapid evaluation of renewable energy opportunities across Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. The outputs feed into a discussion on broader political-economic opportunities of the region, and the urgency of targeting already dwindling investment and economic assistance towards developing key infrastructure and strategic productivity enhancements.
Energy, migration, economic stability, environmental protection and social welfare issues highlight the deep embeddedness of both EU and MENA destinies. The final section of the chapter explores candid pathways towards more beneficial and sustainable environmental, economic, financial and migratory regimes across the EU and MENA regions. The recent COVID-19 crisis has highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains for essential goods such as food and pharmaceuticals. Policy options could include developing regional supply chain opportunities to insulate both regions from wider global instability.
